The Holy Spirit. Every day, we face a battle between self and surrender.

Our human nature wants control, pride, fear, and ambition push us to live on our own terms. But there is a higher way: choosing the Spirit over self. When we yield to Him, we find freedom, peace, and extraordinary impact. 

Self alone is limited. It gets tired, it gets offended, and it struggles to forgive. But the Holy Spirit lifts us beyond our natural limits.

Isaiah 32:15 says, “Until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field…”

When the Spirit takes charge, deserts turn into fruitful fields and weakness becomes strength.

David was an ordinary shepherd boy until the Holy Spirit came upon him. From that moment, he wasn’t just tending sheep, he was being shaped into a king. The Spirit of God gave him courage against Goliath, wisdom for leadership, and integrity that kept him grounded. That’s what happens when the Spirit is greater than self.

When self rules, we shrink back.

Self seeks comfort, but we should be responsibility. Self looks for survival, but the Holy Spirit equips us for service. That’s why Acts 10:38 says Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, and He “went about doing good.” His anointing was never for Himself, it was for the world.

Living by the Spirit makes you a problem-solver. You’ll show patience instead of snapping, forgive when it feels easier to hold grudges, and step forward when others hesitate. He also sharpens your competence, giving wisdom and opportunities that self could never create.

Here’s the truth:

The Holy Spirit not only transforms your heart but also multiplies your influence. He takes ordinary people and makes them extraordinary. When you yield, your life becomes a testimony that inspires others.

So today, choose the Spirit over self. Let the Holy Spirit refine your heart, strengthen your hands, and guide your steps.

Self may want the glory, but the Spirit brings transformation that lasts forever.

An excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Sam Adeyemi on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

Watch this sermon here